Crane



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1; T. JAMES.

CRANE.

No. 591,660. Patented Oct. 12,1897.

WITH 58558 N) INVENTOR JZWMXW (No Model.)

4 SheetsSheet 2. T. JAMES.

CRANE.

No. 591,650. Patented 001;. 12,1897.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

T. JAMES.

CRANE.

No. 591,650. Patented Oct. 12,1897.

WITNESSES /7 m a v 7 m: nonms mans ca. mom-L mo wAsnmcmu, u. c,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

T. JAMES.

CRANE.

No. 591,650. Patented Oct. 12,1897.

WITNESSES Z INVENTOR 5/ amwx m The mums vans cc, Pnovoumq. wnsmucrcu. n.c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS JAMES, OF BRADDOCK, PENNSYLVANIA.

c RAN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 591,650, dated October12, 1897. Application filed February 16, 1894- Serlal No. 500,369. (Nomodel To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS JAMES, of Braddock, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Cranes, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved charging apparatus,showing a part only of the mast or upper framework. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation, on a larger scale, of the upper part of the apparatus. Fig. 3is a side elevation thereof. Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged detail views.Fig. 6 is a side elevation on the side opposite to that of Fig. 3, andFig. 7 is a vertical section on the line VII VII of Fig. 6.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each of the views.

The object of my invention is to provide a furnace charging and drawingapparatus possessing new and useful properties and functions notafforded by prior devices used for the same general purpose.

In the drawings, 2 represents the bridge or jib of a traveling crane,mounted on Wheels 3 upon an overhead track 4, on which it is adaptedtobe driven back and forth by a motor 5, connected with the axle bygearing 6.

7 is a trolley or carriage set on the bridge and movable thereon by amotor 8, connected by gearing 8 with the axle of the trolley. The motors5 and 8 are preferably electric motors. On the trolley 7 is an uprightguide-frame 9, in which is set a vertically-movable post 10, fitted withcounterbalancing-weights 11 and chains 12, which pass over pulleys 13 onthe guide-frame. 7,

To the lower end of the movable post is fixed the head of tongs whosejaws lt are pivoted at points 15 and are connected by toggle-levers 16or otherwise to the pistonrod 17 of a cylinder 18, which is set on themovable post 10 and is actuated by fluid-pressure, the fluid used beingpreferably air, though steam or liquid may be employed for this purpose.When air is used, it is supplied from the reservoir 19, which is carriedby the trolley or crane-bridge and is supplied by a pump 20, driventhrough gearing 20 by an electric motor 21. The rheostat 22 of the motorwhich drives the pump is connected by levers 23 or other suitablemechanism to the piston or governor 2i of a small cylinder 24:, which isconnected by a fluid-passage 25'to the air-reservoir, so that when thepressure in the air-reservoir reaches a certain predetermined degree thecylinder or governor will raise the lever 23 and will move the rhe'ostatso as to stop the motor, and when the pressure is again reduced in theair-reservoir a counterweight 26 moves the lever in the oppositedirection and operates the rheo stat so as to start the motor again intoaction.

27 is a valve controlling the passageof air from the reservoir 19 of thecylinder 18. This valve may be operated bya system of levers or rods 28or any other suitable device.

In order to move the post 10 vertically,I employ a pinion 29, which isdriven by a motor 30 and meshes with a rack 31 on the post, so that byoperation of this motor the post may be moved vertically for the purposeof lowering the tongs into the mouth of the heating furnace or pit andof raising them therefrom after the ingot of metal has been deposited inthe pit orgrasped in order to raise it. The head of the tongs is maderotatory on its vertical axis, and for that purpose is swiveled to theend of the post and is connected by gearing 32 to the square or feathered shaft 33, which is preferably driven by hand, so that it may berotated throughout a whole or a partial revolution, as desired by theoperator, in order toenable him to bring the tongs into proper positionto grasp the ingot. The shaft 33 may, however, be driven by power, ifdesired, though I have notfound this to be necessary.

The operation of the apparatus when thus constructed is as follows: InFig 1 I show the tongs elevated to their highest position. If it isdesired to seize an ingot and to carry it to the heating-furnace, thebridge of the crane and the trolley on the bridge are moved so as tobring the tongs above the position of the ingot, and then the post 10 islowered by the rack and pinion above'described until the jaws of thetongs are caused to fit on opposite sides of the ingot, the head of thetongs being turned into proper position for this purpose. Then byoperation of the cylinder 18, which moves with the post, the jaws of thetongs are caused to approach, so as to grasp the ingot firmly. The postis then raised somewhat by the action of the rack and-pinion, and thecrane-bridge is moved on its track, so as to carry the ingot into aposition above the heating-furnace. The post 10 is then lowered further,so as to deposit the ingot in the furnace, whereupon the jaws of thetongs are spread by reverse action of the cylinder, so as to release theingot, and the post 10 is again raised. If it be desired to shift theposition of the ingot in the furnace, and

this isavery important and valuable feature of my invention, the ends ofthe tongs are brought against the ingot and'by motion of laterally, soas to shift its position as desired. In order that the post mayhavesuftlcien't rigidity for this purpose, I provide longitudinalguide-bearings 34 on the trolley, which bear against the side of thepost and may be provided with antifriction-rollers35, in order that theymay not interfere with the free vertical motion. By these means the postis made as rigid as the trolley, so that without difliculty the ingotmay be pushed without straining the post or causing it to bind-in itsbearings. post thefweights 11 act as counterbalances and serve tobalance the weight of the post and-the tongs, together with the cylinderand their other accessory parts, so that at all times these are instable equilibrium.

In orderto prevent the danger which'w'ould result from accidentaldropping of the lifting chain which I have described, a-safetychain36,which will'come into action in-case the other should break, and in orderto steady the weights in their motion I prefer replace them in guides onthe outer side of the Vertical frame 9.

preeiated by those skilled in the art.

WVithin the scope of my invention as defined in the claims modificationsin the form,

arrangement, and construction of the parts may be made by the skilledmechanic, since That I claim is 1. The combination of a traveling.crane,-atrolley or carriage thereon, a vertically-movable post, andtongs carried by the post, said post having guide-bearings on thetrolley and the point of attachment of the tongs, sub

5 stantially as described.

- 2. The combination of acrane,atrolley or During the vertical motion ofthe carriage thereon, a vertically-movable post, tongs carried by thepost, said post having guide-bearings on the trolley and being rigidfrom said bearings to the point of attachment 'of the tongs, and acounterbalance for the ,post.

3-. The combination of a crane, a trolley or carriage thereon,avertically-movable post set in a frame on the trolley, pulleys in theframe, counterweights for the post having flexible --connections passingover said pulleys, and tongs carried by the post, said post being rigidfrom the frame to the point of attachment of the tongs.

the trolley or bridge the ingot can be pushed 4. The combination of atraveling crane, a

trolley or carriage thereon, a vertically-mow able post,*and' tongscarried by the post, said post having guide-bearin gs on the trolley andbeing rendered rigid from said bearings to 5. The combination of tongs,a fluid-pressure cylinder for actuating'the same, afluidreservoir, apump supplying the same, and a governor which controls the pump and isactuated by the fluid-pressure in the reservoir;

: substantially as described.

6. The combination of tongs, afiuid-pressure-cylinder for actuating thesame, a fluidreservoir, apu mp supplying the same, an electric motorwhich drives the pump, and a governor connected with the reservoir andwith p 1 the motor-controlling rheostat or switch. weights, I prefertouse, in addition to the 7. The-combination of a traveling crane,a

; trolley or carriage'thereoma vertically-mov- 1 able post, and ton gs;carried by the-post, said post having guide-bearings withantifrictionrollers on the trolley and being rendered rigid :from saidbearings to the point of attachment ofthe'tongs, substantially asdescribed. The advantages of my invention will be ap 8. In an overheadtraveling crane, the combination with a traveling trolley, of a rack- Ibar carried by the trolley, a pinion engaging said rack-bar for movingthe same vertically, means for actuating the pinion, guides arranged tohold'the bar against lateral move- 1 ment, and means upon the trolleyfor regu- THOMAS JAMES.

' my hand. being rendered rigid from said bearings to Witnesses:

W. 13-. CORWIN, H. M. (JORWIN.-

.75 the point of attachment of the tongs, substant-ially as described,and a rack and pinion by which the post is moved vertically.

